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E B. TOPE. GATE. No. 296,648. Patented Apr. 8., 1884.

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EZRA E. TOPE, OF LEESVILLE, OHIO.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,648, dated April 8, 1884.

Application filed September 6, 1883. (Model.)

, of the United States, residing at Leesville, in

the county of Carroll and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gates; and it consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my gate. Fig. 2 is a detail view, showing the crane or supporting-frame; and Fig. 3 shows the latch devices in detail.

I have shown my gate mounted on a base, A, the hinge-post A being mounted on one end and the latcl1-post A on the opposite end of the same, as shown. The latch-post A is provided on its inner face with one or more inortises, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, to receive the extended ends of the gateslats. The crane B is composed of the vertical bar B, the horizontal bar 13', and the brace or strut B. The bar B is suitably hinged to the gate-post A, and the bar 13 is provided at its outer or swinging end with an extension or log, B, for the purpose presently described. This lug B is secured on what, for convenience of reference, I call the inner face of the crane, and on its'opposite or outer face, near its outer end, Isecure a pin or stud, b. The gate proper is composed of suitable slats, C G, connected at its swinging end by battens O, secured on opposite sides thereof. It also has a middle batten, C", and one, C, secured at its inner end. The crane is provided on the post B, on the same side with the lug 13*, with blocks 13 which serve as means for connecting the hinges, and the gate is placed on the crane with one of its slats resting above these blocks and lug, and it is provided on its side with a roller, 0, flanged at both ends and resting on the bar 13*. This roller is arranged at about the middle portion of the gate, so that the same is practically poised on the single roller, and may consequently be moved more easily back and forth in the operation of the device. I prefer to journal this rollerin the small boX- ing 0, secured to the gate-slat by bolts 0 0 arranged on opposite sides of and above the bolt 0, on which the roller is journaled. The lever D is constructed at its lower end with the widened notch d, and has formed through it the elongated opening or slot d, whereby the lever is secured on the bolt or shaft 0 of the roller, and is adapted to a limited endwise as well as to pivotal motion. The bolt 0 is provided with a shoulder or shield that extends froin the bolthead and passes into and through the slot (2, and prevents the easy working of the lever D being interfered with by its being impinged upon by the roller 0. A shoulder or hook, (Z is formed on the side of the lever next the bolt 0, and somewhat above the slot (2. This hook or shoulder d and the notch d in the end of the lever are arranged a distance apart equal to that between the pin or stud b on the crane and the bolt 0 on the gate when the latter is closed, and in such position of the gate the notch d rests on the pin b and the hook or shoulder under the bolt 0 and the slot (1 permitting no endwise motion of the lever D, when the notch d is pressed upon, the gate is locked against any longitudinal motion on the crane, and one or more of its slats being projected at its swinging end to enter the notches or inortises in post A, it is thereby prevented from any lateral motion.

To effect the unlocking of the gate, the lever is swung back, when the notch or shoulder escapes from under the bolt 0 and the gate may be then easily pushed back and swung open. \V hen thus pushed back, the lug or extension B passes between the battens 0, serving as asteadying means as the gate is swung with the crane. As the gate is swung to and pushed on its roller toward the latch-post, the notch d of lever D will engage on pin Z), and as the motion is continued the lever will be automatically turned over, and the looking or latching of the gate accomplished. The weight of the lever above the shoulder d will, with the endwise motion of the lever D, permitted by the slot d, be sufficient in a full-sized gate to hold engage the pin or stud; also, that the elongated opening might be replaced by an ordinary loose pivot-hole; but I prefer the construction as shown and described, as thereby a compact, simple arrangement is provided, and'one securing an easy, smooth motion of the several parts.

Although Ihave shown my gate mounted on the base A, it is intended that in use the posts A and A be sunk into the ground suiiiciently to retain their position, and thus to dispense with the base A.

It is obvious that the height of the gate from the ground may be altered by attaching the boxing c and the mechanism it supports at a higher or lower point on the gate than that shown, and adjusting the gate on the crane B to correspond; and that, when desired, strands of wire may be substituted for aportion of the slats of the gate proper without interfering with its usefulness or case of operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination of a suitable crane or support provided with a stud or bearingabove the bearing on the crane, and a lever pivotally secured on the gate, and adapted at its lower end to engage the bearing on the crane, and having formed on it a hook or shoulder arranged in position to engage the bearing on the gate, all arranged and operating substantially as specified.

2. The farm-gate, substantially as described, composed of the gate, the crane hinged to the swingpost and supporting the gate, the pin or stud secured on the crane, the boxing secured' on the gate by bolts 0 c and incasing the roller, and the lever provided with widened end notch, (1, adapted to engage the pin or stud on the crane, and having elongated opening (2, whereby it is pivoted on the rollershaft, and constructed on its edge neXt the bolt 0 with a hook or shoulder arranged to engage said bolt, all as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination, with the crane having a stud or hearin and the gate proper, of a lever pivotally secured to the gate, and adapted at its lower end to engage the stud on'the crane, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the crane provided at its swinging end with a lug or projection, B, and having astud or bearing-point, 6, near said swinging end, the gate having end battens, C, and placed and movable on said crane, the lever pivoted on the gate above the crane, and adapted at its lower end to engage the stud b, and suitable locking devices, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EZRA E. TOPE. Vitn esses:

WM. ADAIR, R. O. Moons. 

